Israel conducts strikes in Iran, IDF says
The IDF said it struck military targets in western and central Iran.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal.
Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations are concluded "one way or the other."
Key Headlines
- IDF says it has identified missiles fired at Israel from Iran
- IDF says fatal shooting of baby in West Bank prompts criminal investigation
- Israeli strikes in Beirut could put US-Iran peace negotiations in peril
- US forces again shoot down Iranian attack drones that threatened Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM says
Fighting continues in southern Lebanon after ceasefire talks
Israel and Hezbollah continued to launch attacks through Wednesday night and into Thursday morning despite an agreement on the implementation of a ceasefire between Israeli and Lebanese leaders announced by the State Department on Wednesday.
The deal announced on Wednesday is contingent on a "complete cessation" of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all its forces from the South Litani Sector, according to the statement.
But both Israel and Hezbollah continued to launch attacks into Thursday.
Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a post to X addressing southern Lebanese residents on Thursday, "The fighting in southern Lebanon continues as the Israel Defense Forces continue to target Hezbollah facilities and infrastructure located in your villages and nearby."
Adraee also issued fresh evacuation warnings for residents of southern Lebanon. “The IDF continues to target Hezbollah terror infrastructure located in and near the area south of the Zahrani River,” he wrote.
Lebanon's National News Agency said that three people were injured when a car was attacked while traveling in the south of the country. NNA also reported an Israeli airstrike on a town in the southern Tyre district.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, claimed overnight attacks on "gatherings of Israeli enemy soldiers" in multiple locations in the south of the country.
Rubio describes recent 'kinetic actions' between US and Iran
In his appearance before Congress on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the tempo of what he called "kinetic actions" between the U.S. and Iran in recent days, which he characterized as a U.S. response to Iranian provocations.
"That is some commercial ship that didn't pay a toll and starts to move. That ship comes under attack by a drone. We shoot down the drone. In some cases, not only do we shoot down the drone, but we hit the launcher of the drone, so they can't hit the ship a second time," Rubio said.
"The Iranians then respond by launching two missiles or three at some base in the region as their response. And that's what you've seen play out three of the last four nights with regards to this," he added.
Rubio also discussed the nuclear element of the ongoing negotiations with Iran, saying that any new nuclear agreement would invoke legislation that would put the pact before Congress.
In response to a question from Sen. Lindsey Graham, Rubio said the administration wants a deal that would allow the U.S. to punish Iran for its continued support for the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, but stressed that the "primary threat here is the nuclear weapons ... they can never have a nuclear weapon."
Uranium enrichment monitoring, Rubio added, will be "critical for any deal to be successful."
Rubio also told senators that the ongoing talks with Tehran are being complicated as the Iranian government is "fractured." He estimated it takes some between seven and 10 Iranian negotiators to pass proposals.
Rubio said this week that it often takes "three to five days to get a response" from the Iranian leadership.
ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston and Christopher Boccia
Israel, Lebanon reach agreement on implementation of ceasefire
Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement on the implementation of a ceasefire, according to a joint statement from the two countries and the U.S.
This comes after two days of negotiations in Washington.
The ceasefire is contingent on a "complete cessation" of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all its operatives from the South Litani Sector, according to the statement.
"The two sides agreed with the guidance of the United States to swiftly advance the creation of pilot zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors," the statement said. "These steps will enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement."
Israel and Lebanon agreed to reconvene the week of June 22 "with a view toward reaching a comprehensive agreement," the statement said.
-ABC News' Shannon Kingston
White House responds to House passing war powers resolution
In response to the House passage of the war powers resolution, a White House official reiterated their view that the resolution is unconstitutional and said even if it passed the Senate -- which the official said is unlikely -- it would have "no force or effect."
"President Trump will continue to protect our national security using his constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief while being transparent with Congress," the official added.
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart